Receptacle lifter



June 26, 1934. E. 1.. THOMAS RECEPTACLE LIFTER Filed Oct. 23. 1933 A'EWA/w L 7710MA5 Mow;

Patented June 26, 1934 UNITED STATES RECEPTACLE LIFTER Edward L. Thomas, Spokane, Wash.

Application October 23 2 Claims.

My present invention relates to an improved receptacle lifter of the type employed for lifting pie-tins, pans and other culinary utensils. Ihe primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of this character that may readily be manipulated, and adjusted, by the use of one hand only, thus affording the user the opportunity of employing the other hand for the performance of other duties or functions attending the culinary operations.

In carrying out my invention I utilize a combined handle and pair of grasping jaws together with an adjustable slide and its complementary pair of grasping jaws, and means are provided whereby the slide may be retained, by friction, in adjusted position, in adapting the lifter to various sizes of receptacles. Means are also provided whereby the slide may be manipulated, with facility, by the use of the same hand that grasps the handle of the lifter.

The lifter, because of its simplicity in construction and minimum number of parts, may be manufactured at comparatively low cost; its parts may readily be assembled for use; and the invention insures a reliable device that is efficient in the performance of its functions.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed. In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention, but it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made in the exemplified structure within the scope of my claims without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle lifter embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side View of the lifter applied to a pie tin.

Figure 3 is a rear View of the slide, detached.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional, detail view showing the relation of the slide to the handle bars, and the tension device for holding the slide in adjusted position.

Figure 5 is a side view of the lifter applied to another type of receptacle or pan.

In carrying out my invention I utilize a U- shaped handle of resilient wire comprising the two parallel handle bars 1 and 2 and the end bend 3, and these two bars terminate in the pair of diverging arms 4 and 5, each of which is pro- 1933, Serial No. 694,779

vided with a grasping jaw or hook 6 adapted to fit under the usual bead or top edge of a pie tin as P or other pan as P.

The slide '7 is a suitable metallic body having a pair of integral, curved, diverging jaws 8 and 9, complementary to the grasping hooks 6, and '7 of the arms 4 and 5, and the slide, which as shown is of fiat formation, is provided with a pair of parallel holes 10 and 11 having a bore or diameter of such size as to permit the slide, which is mounted on the bars, by means of these holes, to be moved back and forth, or be adjusted, with ease, but means under tension are provided for frictionally engaging the bars within the slide to temporarily hold the slide in adjusted position on the parallel bars.

For this purpose, the slide is provided with an intermediate slot 12 which at its ends merges with the holes 10 and 11, and this slot, as best seen in Figure 2 is of less width than the diameter or bore of the two holes 10 and 11.

Within the slot 12 is placed, and retained, a flat, rectangular, rubber pad 13, which, under normal conditions, is wider than the space between the two bars in the slide, but when the pad is placed in position, it is compressed between the two adjoining bars 1 and 2. Thus, when compressed and placed under tension, the resilient pad, at its lateral edges, engages in frictional contact against the two handle bars, urging them apart and against the outer walls of the respective holes 10 and 11. The resiliency of the rubber is sufficient to cause the pad to engage the handle bars and retain the slide in temporarily adjusted position, on the handle bars.

The tension pad is retained in position within its slot by means of a pin 14 that extends through alined openings in the slotted slide and an opening in the pad, and this pin, as shown, has an upper loop 15 and a lower loop 16, exterior of the slide. Either of these loops may be engaged by a finger or thumb while the hand is grasping the handle, and by means of the finger or thumb pushing or pulling on the loop the slide may be moved forward or backward on the handle for the purpose of adjusting the jaws 8 and 9 to the size of the receptacle to be lifted in order that these jaws may co-act with the hooks 6 in grasping the receptacle. 105

The lateral edges of the tension pad 13, although 4 in close frictional engagement with the handle bars, have a sliding contact with said bars as the tension of the pad is overcome by the pressure of the thumb or finger, but when the pressure is re- 110 leased, the tension of the rubber pad is exerted to hold the slide in adjusted position.

From this description, taken in connection with my drawing, it will be apparent that the lifter may be manipulated with facility, by the use of one hand only, not only for adjusting it to different sizes of receptacles, but for lifting the receptacle, as desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a receptacle lifter, the combination with a U -shaped handle having parallel bars, diverging arms integral with said bars and grasping hooks on said arms, of a slide mounted on the bars and provided with a pair of parallel holes and a slot intermediate said holes, and tension means within said slot for frictional engagement with said bars to hold the slide in adjusted position.

2. In a receptacle lifter, the combination with an integral U-shaped handle comprising a pair of parallel bars, diverging arms integral with said bars, and grasping hooks at the ends of said arms, of a slide mounted on said bars, said slide having a pair of spaced holes therein and an intermediate slot joining said holes, a rubber pad interposed under tension between said bars and located in the slot, a retaining pin passed through said slide and pad, and finger loops forming the upper and lower ends of said pin.

EDWARD L. THOMAS. 

